Swindon to Gloucester.. on Arriva Trains Wales?

[nickcooper]

I may have made an oversight, but can anyone shed light on this:

A friend of mine recently caught the 13.54 service out of Swindon in the Cheltenham Spa direction. Also, a few weeks ago, I caught the same train, just two hours earlier.

Now, this route is through the First Great Western franchise, passing through FGW stations. National Rail Enquiries, the Network Rail timetable, even FGW themselves say that this is a FGW service. Every other hour, the same train to Cheltenham commences at Paddington (though it's an HST) from where only FGW trains leave.

But this train is (I think a Class 150) in Arriva livery (which on its own can be explained cause I think FGW bought some Arriva trains.) But my friend said the conductor is an Arriva conductor, and the announcements called it an Arriva service.

Even Arriva's website says it's a FGW service (admittedly since they all run from the same service.)

So whose train is it???? Surely it's a FGW, but why is everything Arriva? This has just intrigued me.... Many thanks in advance if anyone can be of help!

 

[wjp]

Nick - It is a FGW service - but FGW currently have 150267/78-81 on hire (all of which are in Arriva Trains Wales livery).

Here's 150279 at Bristol Temple Meads on 10/04: http://wjp.fotopic.net/p58916387.html

 

[mumrar]

Your reasoning on the livery of the unit is spot on, stock movements and franchise changes always cause chaos. I've shot a South West 158 in Edinburgh! However, confirmed via Avantix, there are NO services operated between these stations by Arriva Trains Wales

 

[nickcooper]

Well, I thought this. Plus I know the routes around this area quite well so I thought it strange to be anything but FGW. But why was it announced as ATW, with a ATW conductor? That's what I find difficult to explain..

 

[Mojo]

I've seen ATW drivers and conductors operating FGW services. Seems less common than it used to be though. The only time it would have been announced as Arriva is if the person making the announcement made a mistake.

 

[175001]

Furthest east ATW go is Cheltenham Spa, no further.

 

[The Planner]

<cue argument over whether Birmingham International is further east>

 

[First class]

Sort of going off topic- but whatever happened to the ATW Penzance services, and did a 175 ever make the journey?

 

[HSTfan!!!]

ATW conductors no longer work FGW services as of last year, also ATW are soon to lose the FGW work.

 

[Mojo]

I saw an ATW driver though about 3 weeks ago working a BPW-WSM service!

 

[HSTfan!!!]

sorry I meant to say above ATW drivers are soon to lose the FGW work

 

[TGVDUDE]

<cue argument over whether Birmingham International is further east>

lol, this has stumpted me!, i have no clue!

 

[Pumbaa]

<cue argument over whether Birmingham International is further east>

Absolutely it is!

 

[nickcooper]

Well, you've only affirmed what I thought, so muchos gracias.

But also I'm fairly sure Arriva stop at New Street, and I can't see why they'd go to Bham International... (But still, that's as far east as they go!)

 

[merlodlliw]

So it could be 150s to Marylebone

 

[The Planner]

158s as the paths are based on them.

 

[Mojo]

But also I'm fairly sure Arriva stop at New Street, and I can't see why they'd go to Bham International... (But still, that's as far east as they go!)

They go to Birmingham Intl except for the first and last few trains of the day. I don't know if this is the exact reason for them, but if they are running late then they can be turned at Birmingham New Street thus saving quite a bit of time and helping them to get back on track (the trains leave for BHI at xx36 and return towards Shrewsbury and beyond at xx24). Presumably there isn't enough capacity to hold trains at New Street for almost 50 minutes.

 

[The Planner]

Spot on. Its done to get them out of the way.